Iago Character Analysis

Iago is a cunning character and the antagonist of Othello. He is the force that works against Othello, and since Othello desperately trusts Iago, he is all the more dangerous. He is extremely smart and plans out things very well. He is like a master puppeteer in the way he controls the people around him. He can lie and sway someone to anger, and they will have no clue of his deeds. He also has no loyalty to anyone, even his wife. He had used his wife, and then killed her, which shows how untruthful he is. It seems as if there are strings attached to each character's bodies that connect them all to Iago's manipulating hands.

Othello #4

A choice that Shakespeare made that I liked was making the handkerchief a symbol. It is powerful because it alone symbolizes the love between Othello and Desdemona. This means that when you get a hold of this napkin, you can manipulate their love, as Iago did. With tweaking from Iago, this handkerchief slowly became a symbol for jealousy. It was the very first handkerchief that Othello had given to Desdemona. It was the start of their relationship, and it might as well be the end.

Othello #3

Characters: Lodovico, Desdemona, Othello
"L: Is there division twixt my lord and Cassio? D: A most unhappy one. I would do much t'atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio. O: Fire and brimstone! D: My lord? O: Are you wise? D: What, is he angry? L: Maybe the letter moved him; for, as I think, they do command him home, deputing Cassio in his government. D: By my troth, I am glad on't. O: Indeed? D: My lord? O: I am glad to see you mad. D: Why, sweet Otheloo— O: [Striking her] Devil! D: I have not deserved this. L: My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, though I should swear I saw't. 'Tis very much. Make amends; she weeps. O: Oh, devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman's tears, each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. Out of my sight! D: I will not stay to offend you. [Going]" (4.1:233-254).

I chose this passage because it is the point where husband and wife turn on each other.This passage shows how angry and changed Othello is. He is mad enough to strike his wife. This also reveals the confusion of others at his behavior and the innocence of Desdemona. Othello makes a reference to "crocodile tears" where he says that every tear Desdemona would shed is fake. Othello has gone through a transformation for the worse, and is slowly going crazy from the poison implemented by Iago.

Comment on James Dolan's blog:
I think it's weird how desperately Othello trusts Iago. He believes in every word that snake speaks. It is also frustrating that Othello hasn't told her why he is angry, which is a HUGE block in their relationship.

Othello Casting

Othello
"It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. O my soul's joy, if after ever tempest come such calms, may the winds blow till they have wakened death" (2.1:183-186
"MY blood begins my safer guides to rule, and passion, having my best judgment collied"(2.3:199-200).
Othello is head-strong and noble and loves Desdemona with all of his heart. He also is very trusting, so trusting that he believes Iago for everything. He seemed to be easily manipulated. Othello should be black (obviously). He should be tall and heroic, walk chest out and have a deep voice.

Iago
"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse; for mine own gained knowledge should profane If I would time expend with such a snipe but for my sport and profit" (1.3:384-387).
"And nothing can or shall content my soul till I am evened with him, wife for wife, or failing so, yet that I put the Moor at least into a jealousy so strong that judgment cannot cure" (2.2:230-234).
Iago is the most cunning of all of the characters. He is not coward, but he hides behind others as he manipulates them. Iago is trusted by all for his false flattery. He shouldn't look like a creeper like popular belief, since he needs to seem trustworthy. He should be darkish looking and have a creepy smile. I should look short and thin.

Desdemona
"She gave me for my pains a world of sighs. She swore, in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange, 'twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful" (1.3:161-163)
"She's a most exquisite lady. Indeed, she's a most fresh and delicate creature. She is indeed perfection" (2.3:18-25).
She loves Othello very much and is fair to everyone. She treats Cassio as a friend even after his embarrassment. She also seems to be able to reign in Othello. She would probably be good-looking and move elegantly.

Emilia
"Good madam, do. I warrant it grieves my husband as if the cause were his" (3.3:3-4).
"Iam glad I have found this napkin. I'll have the work ta'en out, and give't to Iago. What he will do with it heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy" (3.3:306-315).
Emilia is kind and innocent, though her husband is not. She only wishes to please Iago, since Iago is her husband. Emilia is a good example of Iago manipulating someone. Emilia only does what she does because of Iago. She would probably be short and plump and a fussy housewife.

Comment on Haylee Winden's blog:
I agree with all of your cast and I like how you found quotes that really fit into how they should act.

Othello #2

It seems that Iago is a loner in the play. He schemes alone for his own benefit. He even manipulates Roderigo, lying to him to get him to call out Cassio. Iago isn't really friends with Roderigo; he's just using Roderigo as cover and a way to bring down Othello and Cassio. I think that he makes "friends" to better benefit himself. He states that he is on the good side of Othello, and says that this will better his attempts to bring Othello down. It's also strange that Iago's wife does not seem intimate at all to Iago. Iago is truly alone in this play.

Othello Research

Turks:
The Turkish were all united under the Ottoman Empire They were ruled by a line of Sultans, including Selim I and Suleiman the Magnificent. During the 16th Century, the empire was in its height of power and began a long conquest put on by its devoted Sultans. The Turks invaded and conquered parts of Asia , southeastern Europe, and North Africa. A Turkish invasion was a common fear.

The Ottoman Empire by the end of the 16th Century:

(Click to enlarge.)

Comment on Andrew Rood's blog for Venice:
So the first opera house was made in the city of Venice. It seems that Venice would have been a capital.

Comment on Haley Winden's blog for Moors:
I think it's interesting that the Moorish ruled Europe. If racism was existent, it obviously did stop the Moorish from taking over.

Comment on Olivia Everton's blog for Cyprus:
It was probably inevitable that a Turkish invasion would happen. I bet that this fact plays a big part in Othello.

Othello #1

At first when I began reading the book, I was confused because the Introduction threw me off by its length. And then, when I began to read the actual play, the difficulty of the reading hit me like a hammer. I had to go back and reread the verses to make sure that I understood the lines. Shakespeare either made up words a lot, or the language is just very old fashioned, or both. Also, the first scene starts off with bad feelings to the main character, possibly making us biased before we have met the main character.

The Piano Lesson Project Analysis

In a passage in The Piano Lesson, the author uses the slavery of his ancestors to add a deeper, emotional feeling to Boy Willie's argument over the piano. Boy Willie is talking to Doaker and Lymon about getting land and having to sell the piano to do it. He tells them, "[My daddy] spent his whole life farming someone else's land. I ain't gonna do that" (46). Boy Willie is like any other man; he feels strongly the unfairness of slavery. He is infuriated by how most of his family have lived in slavery and has a strong will to turn the family legacy around. And now that he has a chance to own something for himself, he begins to pursue the American Dream.